We have over 20 years experience building relationships and achieving the best outcomes for clients. We're here for good and we're just getting started.

Areas of Practice

Personal

Relationship Property

Working out how to deal with your family property either when entering into a new relationship or after a separation can be a confusing and sometimes worrying process. The Property (Relationships) Act 1976 has far-reaching implications for those in a marriage, civil union or de facto relationship. Advice from and representation by a skilled relationship property lawyer is essential if your rights and expectations around your property interests are to be protected.

At Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Letts our specialist relationship property lawyers will carefully assist you with the preparation of an appropriate Contracting Out Agreement if you are in a new relationship or through the steps required to successfully realise your property interests at the end of a relationship.

Personal

Childcare

Separation can be difficult, particularly when there are children involved. We take a conciliatory approach to minimise stress on you and so that the focus is on the needs of the children.

We can assist you with any disputes relating to your children's care and upbringing including day to day care arrangements, contact, relocation, guardianship disputes, Hague Convention or adoption matters. Our lawyers are registered providers of the Family Legal Advice Service (FLAS). We can assist you before you attend Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), the process now compulsory before you may apply to the Family Court (except in urgent cases or where there are safety issues).

If your matter proceeds to Court, we can represent you right through the Court process. Our Family Team has a wealth of court experience, including senior lawyers who are regularly appointed by the Court to act for children.

Personal

Wills and Estates

It's sometimes hard to think about what should happen to your property when you die. Maintaining a current will makes things easier for your family after you've gone. We can assist with the preparation of a will carefully tailored to your circumstances.

Disputes about a will or administration of an estate can be stressful at a time when emotions run high. We can advise you on whether a will is valid and if you have a claim against an estate. We have experience in complicated estate litigation at all court levels, including the Court of Appeal.

If there is no will then we can assist with the administration of the estate and deal with any potential claims.

We have administered a large number of estates over many years. Other law firms often refer complicated estate matters to us.

Personal

Property

For most of us, our home is the most expensive purchase we will ever make and it needs to be done right. Whether you’re buying your first house or are a seasoned campaigner in the property market, our property experts can give you solid legal and practical advice tailored to your situation. We can advise on different options for parents looking to help children into their first home, or create a property sharing agreement for friends or flatmates looking to band together to get a foot onto the property ladder. We can help you set up and transfer your property to a family trust.

We have expertise in apartments and unit titled properties, and will work efficiently with your surveyor and engineers if you’re subdividing a property. As expert dispute resolvers, we can also provide advice and representation with your property problems, including easement issues, body corporate disputes and neighbour issues.